P.E.I. to make nurse movement easier

The province of P.E.I. plans to make it easier for graduates from other provinces to practice on the Island after new graduate had to wait months before being allowed to register on P.E.I.

Jeanette Verleun had to wait four months to be allowed to start nursing on P.E.I. (Pat Martel/CBC)

Jeanette Verleun is originally from the eastern P.E.I. town of Montague but got her nursing degree in Montreal. A P.E.I. law requiring a student nurse to register in the province they graduated in meant registering to practice on the Island, which she thought would take a few days, dragged on for four months.

"If we want professionals to come from some of the best schools in the country, we've got to make it easier for them to start working here," said Verleun.

"If an Islander wants to go away, have their adventure and then come back, don't make it impossible for them to come back."

A spokesperson for the province said there was not enough time to introduce legislative changes in this sitting of the legislature, but that will likely happen in the fall session.